No more rope drop at epcot!!

[LaurenT]

I received a reply just now to my e-mail about CM's letting front entrance guests thru the turnstiles ahead of IG guests.
I don't know about the other parks, but this is what she says about Epcot:

Dear Ms. T,

Thank you for contacting us regarding Epcot.

The turnstiles at both locations are opened when the appropriate Cast
Member deems the park is ready to open for our Guests. As International
Gateway is a greater distance away from Future World, there will always
be a crowd that will arrive to their destination first. Typically, the
turnstiles would open at 8:45 A.M. to allow both sets of Guest entrances
to proceed to the rope drop at the Fountain View area for the 9:00 A.M.
park opening. However effective today, September 13th 2011, rope drop
has been eliminated and we will simply open the turnstiles to the
Guests. This change in procedure is part of our normal efforts to
continuously provide our Guests with the safest and most pleasant
experience possible.

Ms. T, I hope you find this information helpful. We look forward
to entertaining you and your family this October.

Best Regards,

Rachel McBride
Guest Services
Walt Disney World

 

[SaraJayne]

Ok, I was one of the people that said missing RD at the fountain wasn't a big deal, but now they're completely doing away with it??

 

[LaurenT]

In thinking about how this will work out in reality, though I guess the little opening show will be eliminated, I think it will be a bit more fair in getting people to their ride of choice.
The people first through the turnstiles will most likely be the first to the FP machines - not just the single runner - but even a mom with a 2 yr old has a shot at being one of the first...if she gets to the park ahead of everyone else.
And, though it is a farther walk from IG, so if both turnstiles open at exactly the same time, an IG guest will never be first, they will still have fewer other guests lined up in front of them - so they should still get to the machines fairly quickly....

 

[LaurenT]

Ok, I was one of the people that said missing RD at the fountain wasn't a big deal, but now they're completely doing away with it??

Yes, yes they are.

 

[Robo]

While I have no reason to specifically doubt Ms. McBride of Disney.

Let's see what the actual reports are from Epcot over the next few days to determine the accuracy of the eMail.

(Again, I don't have a SPECIFIC doubt... just a lot of "experience" with
these kind of things. )


And, as always, thanks for posting the info, Lauren!

I received a reply just now to my e-mail about CM's letting front entrance guests thru the turnstiles ahead of IG guests.
I don't know about the other parks, but this is what she says about Epcot:

Dear Ms. T,

Thank you for contacting us regarding Epcot.

The turnstiles at both locations are opened when the appropriate Cast
Member deems the park is ready to open for our Guests. As International
Gateway is a greater distance away from Future World, there will always
be a crowd that will arrive to their destination first. Typically, the
turnstiles would open at 8:45 A.M. to allow both sets of Guest entrances
to proceed to the rope drop at the Fountain View area for the 9:00 A.M.
park opening. However effective today, September 13th 2011, rope drop
has been eliminated and we will simply open the turnstiles to the
Guests. This change in procedure is part of our normal efforts to
continuously provide our Guests with the safest and most pleasant
experience possible.

Ms. T, I hope you find this information helpful. We look forward
to entertaining you and your family this October.

Best Regards,

Rachel McBride
Guest Services
Walt Disney World

 

[LaurenT]

Wow...I hope she wasn't just blowing smoke up my xyz...
She says it was effective today - maybe someone who was there for opening this morning will chime in....

 

[summerskye]

Thanks LaurenT for the posting of the response. I too sent an email the same day as you. I will post the response as soon as I get one. Maybe mine will be different...

 

[LaurenT]

Thanks LaurenT for the posting of the response. I too sent an email the same day as you. I will post the response as soon as I get one. Maybe mine will be different...

I sent you a PM also....
It'll be interesting to see what the response is to yours!

 

[Sleeping Becca]

I'd like to hear reports of this as well. This style of opening runs contrary to the SOP of all of the other parks. Guest are typically let in through the turnstiles and held before the park officially opens.

It sounds like they are using the turnstiles as a crowd control measure in lieu of CM's walking people to attractions.

I am thinking while it may take less CMs to open the park, it will result in a massive back up of people at the gate.

I guess we will have to see how it goes. This may work out better for IG guests if it works at all.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Wow...I hope she wasn't just blowing smoke up my xyz...
She says it was effective today - maybe someone who was there for opening this morning will chime in....

We will be there on the 23rd for 10 nights, we hit RD everyday, and will be in Epcot at least 2 mornings, I'll be glad to report back but hopefully we will get something else before then.

 

[SaraJayne]

I'd like to hear reports of this as well. This style of opening runs contrary to the SOP of all of the other parks. Guest are typically let in through the turnstiles and held before the park officially opens.

It sounds like they are using the turnstiles as a crowd control measure in lieu of CM's walking people to attractions.

I am thinking while it may take less CMs to open the park, it will result in a massive back up of people at the gate.

I guess we will have to see how it goes. This may work out better for IG guests if it works at all.

You are right. If they don't open the turnstiles until 9:00am, wow ~ I can't even imagine the back ups that are going to result from the delay.

 

[Robo]

I'd like to hear reports of this as well. This style of opening runs contrary to the SOP of all of the other parks. Guest are typically let in through the turnstiles and held before the park officially opens.

It sounds like they are using the turnstiles as a crowd control measure in lieu of CM's walking people to attractions.

I am thinking while it may take less CMs to open the park, it will result in a massive back up of people at the gate.

I guess we will have to see how it goes. This may work out better for IG guests if it works at all.

For years, the guests entering from the Epcot front gates used to be "re-staged" (held) just to the north of Spaceship Earth (before you get to the entrance to the ride, under the ball.)

The more recent staging at the Fountain of Nations was a somewhat new development that started 3-5 years ago.

Now, let's see if they've actually made a substantive change on (how convenient) TODAY's very date.

 

[mjp12831]

At least the RD procedure eliminated people from all out running from the rope to the attraction, as you couldn't run ahead of the cast members walking you to Sorin/TT.

Now I'm envisioning people doing an all out sprint after they get through the turnstiles

Will also be interesting to see if the RD process is eliminated at other parks - specifically HS and how that impacts TSM

 

[KungFoomF]

I foresee a lot of people running hard from the turnstiles. They can slow people down via a rope and walking with them, but they can't do that for everyone.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

Right at AK you are held at the Oasis, at DHS you are let onto Hollywood BLVD, at MK the Trainstation tunnels, at Epcot the fountain.

I can't recall any rope drop that did not involve being held somewhere.

I can not imagine what the turnstile lines will look like. Yikes!

 

[Traveliz]

My daughter works at Epcot and told me this was happening some time ago but didn't know when exactly. She doesn't work now until the weekend so I won't know anything from her until then...well actually I think she is going as a guest maybe tomorrow so maybe she will know something.

I think this is so reminiscent of the running to Space Mtn years ago. I have a hard time thinking this is a good idea.

Guess we will see.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

If what was said in the e-mail is true then it will be very interesting to see what happens when everyone is going to Soarin right away once Epcot opens, because I think it will be crazy and walking behind the Cast Members actually works.

 

[stargazertechie]

I feel slightly screwed. We are here now, skipped rope drop Sunday morning to sleep in. DH has never seen the show, and we had matching shirts to wear for RD at Epcot tomorrow.


I will report back asap with my experience.

 

[cardramblues]

Maybe they will make the turnstile lines "queue-less" and "interactive" so you don't even realize you are in line.

 

[kathleendsm]

Given the significantly lower crowds at the IG, this would seem to favor the IG since I'd imagine the Future World turnstiles will slow things pretty significantly. We've never done rope drop at Epcot, and from the sounds of this we won't try except when we're staying at BWV!